The article discusses the phenomenon of being buried alive, a scenario that has occurred throughout history due to various medical conditions and misdiagnoses. It shares stories of people who were buried alive, including a 19th-century woman who was exhumed with signs of having tried to escape her coffin and a modern-day woman in Brazil who was found with injuries consistent with trying to escape her coffin.
The article also touches on the history of burial practices and how they have evolved over time. It mentions that in the past, people were often buried quickly due to the lack of refrigeration, and that this sometimes led to live burials.
In addition, the article discusses the idea of voluntary live burial as a form of meditation or thrill-seeking, citing examples of people who have intentionally buried themselves for hours or days. However, it also notes that this practice can be dangerous, as seen in the case of a Russian man who suffocated in his coffin during a self-imposed burial.
Finally, the article provides tips on how to potentially escape if one finds themselves buried alive, including using fabric to create a makeshift mask, breaking through the coffin lid with one's feet, and pushing upwards to try to reach the surface.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In 1786, Professor Tour's witnessed the demolition of a Paris cemetery from the 14th century.
2. During the excavation of multiple graves, Professor Tour's saw many skeletons showing signs of having been moving in the coffins.
3. People who were buried alive in the past were not uncommon, with documented cases throughout history.
4. In the 1800s, a young American woman named Octavia Smith Hatcher was buried alive in Kentucky.
5. Octavia's husband suspected she might have been buried alive and had her body exhumed, confirming his worst fears.
6. In 1817, a man named Mr. Cornish was buried alive, and grave diggers heard his groans from under the ground.
7. The practice of burying people alive was more common in the past due to limited medical knowledge.
8. In the Middle Ages, people who were buried alive and later discovered to be alive were considered vampires and often had their heads cut off.
9. In some countries, funerals were delayed for three days after death to ensure the person was truly deceased.
10. In the 19th century, a Frenchman named Angelo Hays was buried alive after a car accident, but was later exhumed and found to be alive.
11. Angelo's experience led him to invent a special coffin that could be easily escaped from.
12. In 1993, a 24-year-old South African man named William Matt was declared dead and taken to a morgue, but later came to and managed to escape from his coffin.
13. In 2011, a 35-year-old Russian man died after voluntarily burying himself for a day to reflect on life.
14. Some people voluntarily undergo staged funerals, where they are buried alive for several hours or days, often with the help of trained experts.
15. The practice of burying people six feet underground originated in 1655, as a way to prevent the spread of the bubonic plague in England.
16. According to experts, it is possible to escape from a grave if one is buried alive, but it requires careful planning and a calm demeanor.
17. In 2011, a Russian blogger named Gabbar voluntarily buried himself and transmitted his experience live to the internet.